Here is video of a passenger on Northwest Airlines Flight 253 telling about the heroic effort of another passenger to stop a terrorist on board to keep him from completing his attempt to blow up the airplane.

A young man climbed over passengers to get to the Nigerian terrorist to stop him. Reports indicate the terrorist was burned badly on his legs, where he had strapped the explosive device. The heroic passenger was also burned in subduing the attacker:

An attempted terrorist attack on a Christmas Day flight began with a pop and a puff of smoke - sending passengers scrambling to subdue a Nigerian man who claimed to be acting on orders from al-Qaida to blow up the airliner, officials and travelers said.

The commotion began as Northwest Airlines Flight 253, carrying 278 passengers and 11 crew members from Amsterdam, prepared to land in Detroit just before noon Friday. Travelers said they smelled smoke, saw a glow, and heard what sounded like firecrackers. At least one person climbed over others and jumped on the man, who officials say was trying to ignite an explosive device.

"It sounded like a firecracker in a pillowcase," said Peter Smith, a passenger from the Netherlands. "First there was a pop, and then (there) was smoke."

Smith said one passenger, sitting opposite the man, climbed over passengers, went across the aisle and tried to restrain the man. The heroic passenger appeared to have been burned.

Afterward, the suspect was taken to a front-row seat with his pants cut off and his legs burned. Multiple law enforcement officials also said the man appeared badly burned on his legs, indicating the explosive was strapped there. The components were apparently mixed in-flight and included a powdery substance, multiple law enforcement and counterterrorism officials said.

The White House said it believed it was an attempted act of terrorism and stricter security measures were quickly imposed on airline travel. Dutch anti-terrorism authorities said the U.S. has asked all airlines to take extra precautions on flights worldwide that are bound for the United States. . . . (VIDEO)

Thank God for that brave Dutchman! But what about all those boastful macho posts I read here on Free Republic about how airline terrorists better beware if they try anything like that again on a U.S. flight because they will be “taken down” in short order their brave American seatmates. According to news reports NOT A SINGLE American passenger made ANY move against the terrorist, even after hearing a bang and seeing smoke coming from his seat. (Full disclosure: I’m a proud American who gets a little tired of these big talkers)

I think you are confused. What the 911 hijacking ended is the practice of hijacking airplanes and taking them somewhere to negotiate for the release of the passengers. Ever since 911 it has been assumed that a hijacking will be a suicide attempt. The fact that no one instantly got up to jump on a bomb doesn’t change that.

The contortions the PC crowd goes through are amazing. I heard the “gentleman” comment too. I have a liberal colleague who advises students to call problems “challenges” rather than “problems.” With liberals or people who just aren’t thinking about issues, I try to use more forceful language that might plant a seed for them to ponder later. When talking with this same liberal friend, for example, I refer to the “government TAKEOVER of healthcare.” It’s exhausting trying to sift every word we utter through the PC filter, so I merely quit playing the game.

What I am referring to is the macho comments on these hijacking threads about how Americans are rough & tough and would leap into action to subdue any terrorist. That apparently did not happen. According to news reports it was left to a Dutchman, no less, to leap over several seats to subdue the terrorist while his American seatmates yelled for someone to help.

The Dutchman who saved the day was several seats away, and literally had to jump over a number of seats and passengers to reach the terrorist. Where were all the Americans? (I am not at all claiming I would have acted as bravely as the Dutchman, but I am concerned that we as Americans have become soft to such a degree that we are no longer capable of confronting evil - something our forefathers had the strength and fortitude to do.)

I'm a ramblin' wreck from Allah Tech and a hell of an engineerA helluva, helluva, helluvah, helluva, hell of an engineerLike all good jolly Muslims, for glory I am hereI'm a ramblin' wreck from Allah Tech and a hell of an engineer

Oh, if I had a daughter, I'd dress her in a hoodShe'd blow a pizza parlor up like any good girl shouldAnd if I had a son, sir, I'll tell you what I'd doI'd put him on an airplane with a bomb inside his shoe

I know I'll see those virgins if they ever set me freeI hope I get to Gitmo.....I can finish my degreeThen I'll fly those friendly skies again and my family all will cheerI'll re-plan a wreck 'cause I'm Allah Tech and a helluva an engineer

Leni

13
posted on 12/26/2009 8:33:39 AM PST
by MinuteGal
(Bill O'Reilly: 9/8/09: "Communism is not a threat to us anymore"-10/20/09: "Obama is not a Marxist")

what about all those boastful macho posts I read here on Free Republic about how airline terrorists better beware if they try anything like that again on a U.S. flight because they will be taken down in short order their brave American seatmates. According to news reports NOT A SINGLE American passenger made ANY move against the terrorist, even after hearing a bang and seeing smoke coming from his seat. (Full disclosure: Im a proud American who gets a little tired of these big talkers)

You think everyone's a "big talker"... and you're "a little tired of these 'big talkers'"... Let me guess, you're different from 'big talkers', you'd be the first to stand and lead the assault. Here's the facts: the type of person who enjoys thrusting himself into the limelight BY PUTTING DOWN OTHERS is usually the biggest coward.

Good point. It is possible that there were only people of other nationalities seated near the terrorist. But by the same token, the posts that appear on these hijack threads about how we Americans “sure taught that terrorist guy a lesson” on that plane are equally in error.

Apparently a number of Freepers knew “precisely” what transpired on board that plane before the facts came out. I am speaking about the numerous “we sure showed that terrorist not to mess with Americans!” type comments perhaps inspired by inaccurate news headlines proclaiming that “passengers” subdued the terrorist with it was actually one person, a Dutchman no less, that actually took him down.

WOW - it appears from reports that although passengers went after the terrorist after seeing and hearing ‘stuff’ the fact is that the bomb simply didn’t go off - meaning that the terrorist had everything in place to make this happen.

Geez, let’s try profiling as people are boarding. He must have been visually as likely suspect.

Thanks, and it’s also possible, that women and children were seated nearby too.

Now, were I seated next to the terrorist (I like the aisle seat) I think he would have felt the force of my 20 pound Coach handbag smashed into the side of his face immediately after I saw him bend over to light the explosive, and I would have screamed my head off. So there!!

“Thanks, and its also possible, that women and children were seated nearby too.

Now, were I seated next to the terrorist (I like the aisle seat) I think he would have felt the force of my 20 pound Coach handbag smashed into the side of his face immediately after I saw him bend over to light the explosive, and I would have screamed my head off. So there!!”

You're kidding right? As someone who travels weekly and traveled to London 9 times in the last 10 months, I can tell you that there are many nationalities coming into the States. Moreover, the A330 widebody, especially where he was sitting, was on the far side meaning only someone within 3-4 rows would even be able to reach them and they would have to be on the aisle. That means you've now restricted your choices to roughly 6 people to act.

I can also tell you, without any doubt or hesitation, there are people like me, and quite a few, who, from our first class or seats up towards the front of the aircraft, watch every person who comes on board a flight with a skeptical eye and who will act upon any disturbance.

And I will also say, that will never be restricted to a nationality but to anyone who values their life.

Good for you. I’d be happy to see a thousand similar protests. Just don’t defend those who rashly presume it was Americans on that flight that subdued the terrorist. In this case - as hard as it apparently is for some on these threads to take - it was actually a Dutchman who deserves the credit.

“...I can tell you that there are many nationalities coming into the States. Moreover, the A330 widebody, especially where he was sitting, was on the far side meaning only someone within 3-4 rows would even be able to reach them and they would have to be on the aisle. That means you’ve now restricted your choices to roughly 6 people to act...”

So I presume from the above that those who initially assumed it was Americans who nailed the terrorist are also in error?

Whew, what a relief! I was SO worried that we were facing a real dragon - an implacable enemy in militant Islam, and furthermore, that we in the West had lost our will and ability to confront evil, and are only left with a lot of empty boastful talk exemplified by those on this esteemed forum who before they knew the facts were boasting of their fellow American’s prowess on that plane!!

I guess so but what's your point? You're initial point was "where were the Americans?" not pointing the error of assuming it was Americans who acted first!

trust me when I saw that Americans are usually the first to act. The fact they didn't on this flight wasn't, IMO, the thrust of your first post...so I provided some anecdotal context that questioned your original premise.

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